Rapid action ratchet torque applicator



P 2, 1939. K. w. ARCHIBALD 2,172,490

RAPID ACTION RATCHET TORQUE APPLICATOR 'Filed June ].'7, 1938 INVENTOR.

BY WW 7 /(FcW/Oa/d ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 PATENT OFFIQE RAPID ACTION RATCHET TORQUE APPLICATOR Kenneth W. Archibald, National City, Calif.

Application June 17,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to an apparatus for applying torque to a shaft or the like to provide rapid action and also sufficient leverage, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus of this class which is so constructed and arranged that the torque operating mechanism is never in a position of dead center;

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class in which both rapid manual torque application is provided and also quick application of increased leverage and therefore greater torque application is readily applied;

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class which is applicable for use in connection with any torque action, particularly the turning of any shaft for any purpose desired;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the torque action is readily reversible by the natural reversed shifting of the operating mechanism;

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the shifting from the high speed to a low speed high pressure is very quickly and easily accomplished;

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the low speed high pressure portion is entirel inoperative while using the high speed torque operating mechanism;

Seventh, to provide an apparatus of this class in which very powerful tightening or twisting action may be readily accomplished;

Eighth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, efficient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my rapid action ratchet torque applicator with the high pressure portion shown in inoperative position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing by dash line varying position of the handle for operating the high pressure application; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33 of Fi 2.

1938, Serial No. 214,391

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The shaft I, shiftable handle lever 2, notched wheel 3 and hand wheel 4 constitute the principal parts and portions of my rapid action ratchet torque applicator.

The shaft 1 may be any shape or form. It is, however, preferably round, and it may be secured in any manner desired with any device in which a torque action is to be applied. In this case I have shown in connection with a screw for operating a vise shown by dash lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Secured to this shaft 1 in any manner desired is a wheel 3. In this case I have shown it secured by means of a key 3a positioned in a slot la in the shaft I. However, this wheel may be integral with the shaft or may be secured in any other way as desired. This wheel 3 is relatively Wide to provide strength and it is provided in its periphery with a plurality of notches 3b which extend across the face of the wheel 3 and are preferably provided with curved inner sides 30. Shiftably mounted upon the shaft l at opposite sides of the Wheel 3 is a handle lever 2 A which is preferably made of two duplicate members 2a and 2b which are positioned in spaced relation at the ends mounted on the shaft I adapted to permit the free movement of the wheel 3 between the members 2a and 2b, and these members are offset some distance from the shaft I so that they are rigidly secured together at their extended ends by means of rivets 20. However, it is obvious that this handle lever may be made in one member with bifurcated portions 211 and 2b if desired. These members 20, and 2b are each provided with a slot 2d consisting of a substantially long leg portion 2e and two opposed short portions 23 and 2g and all of these portions 2e, 2 and 29 are of the proper width to permit free movement of the shaft 5 in these portions 2e, 2f and 29 so that the member 2 may be readily shifted on the Shaft. The members 2a and 2b are connected near their juncture by a pin 2h which is riveted at its end as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawing. This pin 2h is adapted to fit in the notches 3b of the wheels 3 when the lever member is shifted as shown by dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing and the shaft l rests in the end of the leg 2e when the handle member 2 is extended downwardly as shown by solid line in Fig. 2 of the drawing and shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Secured to the shaft l to one side of the mem her 217 is a hand wheel 4 which is preferably provided with a hand lever member 4a in the form of a knob to facilitate the turning of the wheel 4 rapidly if desired, thus providing for direct action of the shaft I by rapid motion if desired.

The operation of my rapid action ratchet torque applicator is substantially as follows:

When it is desired to provide rapid motion of the shaft I for any purpose desired, the operator takes hold of the knob 4a and revolves the hand wheel 4 rapidly carrying with it the shaft at a rapid speed. When the torque action begins to tighten and to provide for a final action of great pressure, the handle member 2 is raised to one of the positions shown by dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing with the pin 2h in the upper notch in the wheel 3 and with the long handle positioned to one side of the center, great pressure may be brought to bear upon the shaft through the wheel 3 by the long lever. Then if it is desired to loosen or release the structure, reverse action is accomplished by simply shifting the lever in the opposite direction which will throw the shaft into the other side of the slots 2d at the shorter end, the two positions being shown by dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing and the pressure may be released or a reverse pressure brought to bear. Then by simply raising the handle member 2 slightly so that the pin 2h is out of the notches 3b and the wheel 3, the handle 2 may be turned down to the position shown by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and. arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a rapid action ratchet torque applicator of the class described, a revoluble shaft, a wheel secured thereto provided with a plurality of notches in its outer edge, a bifurcated handle member provided with substantially T-shaped slots in each member positioned on opposite sides of said wheel adapted to shift on said shaft, and a pin carried by said handle member adapted to engage one of the notches in said wheel when said handle is shifted on said shaft.

KENNETH W. ARCHIBALD. 

